U.S. patent application number 10/023596 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning.
This patent application is currently assigned to TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Demerath, Michael.
Application Number | 20020094774 10/023596 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7951675 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020094774 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Demerath, Michael |
July 18, 2002 |
Air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning
Abstract
An air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning, comprises
a frame, a plurality of vanes that are pivotally arranged around a
first axis, and at least one coupling element with which each of
the vanes is coupled. The coupling element is capable of being
adjusted relative to the first axis between a neutral position in
which the vanes are parallel to each other, and a comfort position
in which at least some of the vanes are swiveled in directions
opposite each other.
Inventors: |
Demerath, Michael; (Huffler,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TAROLLI, SUNDHEIM, COVELL, TUMMINO & SZABO L.L.P.
1111 LEADER BLDG.
526 SUPERIOR AVENUE
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-1400
US
|
Assignee: |
TRW Automotive Electronics &
Components GmbH & Co. KG
|
Family ID: |
7951675 |
Appl. No.: |
10/023596 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 1/345 20130101;
F24F 13/15 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/320 |
International
Class: |
B60H 001/34; F24F
007/00; F24F 013/06; F24F 013/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 16, 2001 |
DE |
201 00 740.1 |
Claims
1. An air vent, especially for vehicle air-conditioning, comprising
a frame, a plurality of vanes that are pivotally arranged around a
first axis, and at least one coupling element with which each of
said vanes is coupled, said coupling element being capable of being
adjusted relative to said first axis between a neutral position in
which said vanes are parallel to each other, and a comfort position
in which at least some of said vanes are swiveled in directions
opposite each other.
2. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein said first coupling
element is pivotally coupled with said vanes by means of a slotted
link guide.
3. The air vent according to claim 2, wherein said slotted link
guide consists of a slotted link in said coupling element and a pin
provided on said corresponding vane and engaging said slotted
link.
4. The air vent according to claim 3, wherein a neutral vane is
provided, said slotted link associated with said neutral vane
extending in a straight line and wherein an intermediate vane and
an outer vane are provided on either side of said neutral vane,
said slotted link associated with said outer vane being more
strongly inclined relative to said neutral vane than said slotted
link associated with said intermediate vane.
5. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein said coupling element
is connected to some of said vanes by means of a coupling rod
each.
6. The air vent according to claim 5, wherein at least one neutral
vane is provided that is connected to said coupling element by a
straight-line slotted link guide, and wherein an intermediate vane
and an outer vane are provided on either side of said neutral vane,
said intermediate and outer vanes being connected to said coupling
element by at least one coupling rod.
7. The air vent according to claim 6, wherein said outer vanes and
said intermediate vanes are each connected to said coupling element
by a coupling rod and wherein said two coupling rods of an outer
vane and of an adjacent intermediate vane are mounted on a common
pin on said coupling element.
8. The air vent according to claim 7, wherein said pin on which
said coupling rods are mounted, as seen from said neutral vane,
lies further outside than the respective outer vane, and wherein
said coupling rod associated with said outer vane together with a
direction defined by said straight-line slotted link guide encloses
a smaller angle than with said coupling rod associated with an
adjacent intermediate vane.
9. The air vent according to claim 6, wherein said outer vanes and
said adjacent intermediate vanes are connected to each other by a
connection member each and wherein said coupling rod engages said
connection member.
10. The air vent according to claim 6, wherein two neutral vanes
are provided which are connected to each other by a connection
member, and wherein said connection member is connected to said
coupling element by means of said slotted link guide.
11. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein said vanes are
arranged so as to spread out fan-like in said comfort position so
that a diverging air flow is generated.
12. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein said vanes are
arranged in a converging fashion in said comfort position so that a
converging air flow is generated.
13. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein said coupling
element can be adjusted in translational direction.
14. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein at least one return
spring is provided that biases said coupling element into said
neutral position.
15. The air vent according to claim 14, wherein said return spring
acts between said coupling element and said frame.
16. The air vent according to claim 14, wherein said return spring
acts between said coupling element and one of said vanes.
17. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein, on said frame, an
actuation element is provided that interacts with said coupling
element.
18. The air vent according to claim 17, wherein said actuation
element is provided with a push-button that is accessible from
outside of said air vent.
19. The air vent according to claim 17, wherein a latching
mechanism is provided that can hold said actuation element in a
pushed-in position, so that said coupling element remains in said
comfort position until the next actuation.
20. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein a sliding guide is
provided by means of which said coupling element is mounted so that
it can slide on said frame.
21. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein a second coupling
element is provided that is mounted in such a way that it can slide
on said frame and on which said vanes are arranged so as to be able
to pivot around said first axis.
22. The air vent according to claim 21, wherein said second
coupling element can be slid in a direction that is perpendicular
to a sliding direction of said first coupling element.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to an air vent, especially for vehicle
air-conditioning, comprising a frame and a plurality of vanes that
are pivotally arranged around a first axis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The vanes, which can be arranged either horizontally or
vertically, can be used to adjust the direction of the air flow
emerging from the vent. The air flow is normally directed in such a
way that it does not strike a vehicle occupant directly since this
is felt to be unpleasant. However, at a high air throughput rate
and the correspondingly high speeds with which the air flows out of
the air vent, the prior art vents cannot reliably prevent the
vehicle occupant from being exposed to an air flow that is felt to
be unpleasant.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide an air
vent with which it can be prevented that the vehicle occupant is
exposed to an air flow that is felt to be unpleasant, even at a
high air throughput rate.
[0004] This is achieved in an air vent which, provided for use in
vehicle air-conditioning, comprises a frame, a plurality of vanes
that are pivotally arranged around a first axis, and at least one
coupling element with which each of the vanes is coupled. The
coupling element is capable of being adjusted relative to the first
axis between a neutral position in which the vanes are parallel to
each other, and a comfort position in which at least some of the
vanes are swiveled in directions opposite each other. In this
manner, when the oppositely swiveled vanes are arranged so as to
spread out fan-like, a diverging air flow can be generated in which
lower flow rates prevail than with an air flow having a constant
cross section. Thus, even at a high air throughput rate, it can be
prevented that the emerging air flow strikes the vehicle occupant
at high speeds.
[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention will be apparent
from the subclaims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an air vent according to
a first embodiment of the invention, with the coupling element in
the neutral position;
[0007] FIG. 2 shows the air vent of FIG. 1, with the coupling
element in the comfort position;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an air vent according to
a second embodiment of the invention, with the coupling element in
the neutral position;
[0009] FIG. 4 shows the air vent of FIG. 3, with the coupling
element in the comfort position;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of an air vent according to
a third embodiment of the invention, with the coupling element in
the neutral position; and
[0011] FIG. 6 shows the air vent of FIG. 5, with the coupling
element in the comfort position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows an air vent according to a first embodiment,
with a frame 10 in which, in the embodiment shown, five vanes 12,
14, 16, 18, 20 are pivotally arranged. Each of the vanes is pivoted
on a first coupling element 24 by means of a pin 22 that is
situated approximately in the middle between the front edge of the
vane facing the outside of the vent and the back edge of the vane
facing the inside of the vent. For this purpose, the first coupling
element 24 is provided with a plurality of slotted links 26, 28,
30, 32, 34 that are associated with the pins 22.
[0013] The first coupling element is provided with a guide pin 36
that is accommodated in a sliding guide 38 on the frame. A return
spring 40 is connected to the first coupling element 24 and the
other end of said spring is attached to the frame 10. The return
spring 40 pulls the first coupling element 24 to the left, with
regard to FIG. 1, into a so-called neutral position in which the
pins 22 lie on the right-hand edge of the corresponding slotted
link.
[0014] The front edge, that is to say, the right-hand edge with
regard to FIG. 1, of the vanes 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 are provided with
a pin 42 that is rotatably received in a second coupling element
44. The second coupling element 44 can be moved in a translational
direction by means of two sliding guides 46 on two guide pins 48
that are permanently attached to the vehicle.
[0015] If the first coupling element 24 is in the neutral position
as shown in FIG. 1, the vanes 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 can be swiveled in
parallel to each other in order to adjust the direction of an air
flow emerging from the air vent. In order to adjust is the vanes,
there is a gripping projection 50 mounted on the vane 16.
[0016] An actuation element 52 is mounted on the frame 10, and it
is configured as a two-arm lever here. One end of the actuation
element 52 is in contact with the first coupling element 24 and its
other end with a push-button 54 that is accessible from the outside
of the air vent. A latching mechanism 56--shown here
schematically--interacts with the push-button 54. By pushing the
push-button 54 into the air vent, the first coupling element 24
makes, via the actuation element 52, a translational motion towards
the second coupling element 44, that is to say, to the right
relative to FIG. 1, into the so-called comfort position shown in
FIG. 2. In this position, the first coupling element 24 is held by
the latching mechanism 56 until the actuation element 52 is
released by once again actuating the push-button 54.
[0017] As can be seen in FIG. 2, due to the movement of the first
coupling element 24, the pins 22 of the vanes are now situated on
the left-hand edge of the slotted links 26, 28, 30, 32, 34. The
slotted link 30, which is associated with the vane 16 located in
the middle, the so-called neutral vane, extends in a straight line
and parallel to the adjustment direction of the first coupling
element 24, said direction being predefined by the sliding guide
38. For this reason, the alignment of the neutral vane does not
change when the first coupling element is adjusted. The slotted
links 26, 34 that are associated with the two outer vanes 12, 20
extend in a curve and are sharply inclined relative to the
adjustment direction of the first coupling element 24, said
direction being predefined by the sliding guide 38. For this
reason, when the first coupling element is adjusted by the pin 22,
the outer vanes 12, 20 are swiveled in directions opposite each
other, in such a way that their pins 22 move closer to the neutral
vane. The slotted links 28, 32, which are associated with the
intermediate vanes 14, 18 that lie between the neutral vane and the
outer vanes, likewise have a curved design, but they are less
sharply inclined relative to the direction of movement of the first
coupling element 24, said direction being predefined by the sliding
guide 38. For this reason, the intermediate vanes 14, 18 are also
swiveled when the first coupling element is adjusted, but to a
lesser extent than the outer vanes 12, 20. Due to the spread-out
alignment of the vanes 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, the air flow entering
the air vent in the direction of the arrows E leaves the air vent
as a diverging air flow, as is shown by the arrows A.
[0018] When the push-button 54 is actuated again, the latching
mechanism 56 releases the push-button. As a result, the first
coupling element 24, under the effect of the return spring 40, can
return to its neutral position in which the vanes 12, 14, 16, 18,
20 once again lie parallel to each other.
[0019] The comfort position shown in FIG. 2 with spread-out vanes
also makes it possible to adjust the vanes by actuating the
gripping projection 50. In so doing, the spread-out alignment of
the vanes is largely maintained.
[0020] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the
drawings, the return spring 40, which acts between the frame and
the first coupling element, can be replaced by one or more return
springs that act between the first and the second coupling element.
In this manner, restoring forces can be avoided when the vanes are
in an inclined position.
[0021] According to alternative embodiment not shown in the
drawings, an appropriate arrangement of the slotted links 26, 28,
30, 32, 34 can also achieve that the vanes 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 are
not spread out fan-like when the first coupling element is adjusted
but rather are arranged in a converging fashion. This leads to a
converging air stream.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows an air vent according to a second embodiment.
The same reference numerals are used for the components known from
the first embodiment, and reference is made to the explanations
given above. So as to achieve a clear depiction, the actuation
element, the push-button and the latching mechanism, which serve to
adjust the first coupling mechanism, as well as the return spring
for the first coupling element, are not shown.
[0023] Unlike the first embodiment, with the second embodiment, no
slotted link guides are used for the coupling of the vanes to the
first coupling element, but rather, in each case, a coupling rod 60
for each of the outer and intermediate vanes. Each of these
coupling rods is attached to its associated vane by the pin 22. The
other end of the coupling rods is pivotally attached to the first
coupling element by another pin 62. Here, the coupling rods 60 of
an outer vane 12 or 20 and the adjacent intermediate vane 14 or 18
are mounted together on one single pin 62; this pin 62, as seen
from the neutral vane, lies further outside than the respective
outer vane.
[0024] Mounting the two coupling rods for an outer and an
intermediate vane on one pin results in a simple structure. This
structure can readily produce the geometry necessary for the
adjustment of the vanes so that, when the first coupling element 24
is moved into the comfort position shown in FIG. 4, the outer vanes
12, 20 are swiveled to a greater extent than the intermediate vanes
14, 18, and the spread-out arrangement of the vanes in the nature
of a fan is established.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows an air vent according to a third embodiment.
The same reference numerals are used for the components known from
the first and second embodiments, and reference is made to the
explanations given above. So as to achieve a clear depiction, the
actuation element, the push-button and the latching mechanism,
which serve to adjust the first coupling mechanism, as well as the
return spring for the first coupling element, are not shown.
[0026] The principle of the air vent according to the third
embodiment is equal to that of the second embodiment; the main
difference is that each outer vane 12; 20 is connected with the
adjacent intermediate vane 12; 18 by means of a connection member
70 so that they are adjusted in parallel with each other. Moreover,
now two neutral vanes 16 are provided which are likewise connected
to each other by a connection member 70.
[0027] Each connection member 70 of the outer and intermediate
vanes is connected to the first coupling element 24 by a coupling
rod 60 that is mounted on the first coupling element by the pin 62.
The connection member of the two neutral vanes is mounted on the
first coupling element by the pin 22 that engages the slotted link
30 in the first coupling element.
[0028] If the first coupling element 24 is moved out of the neutral
position shown in FIG. 5 and into the comfort position shown in
FIG. 6, the two neutral vanes 16 remain in their position since the
slotted link 30 extends in a straight line and parallel to the
adjustment direction of the first coupling element 24, said
direction being predefined by the sliding guide 38. In contrast,
the outer vanes and the intermediate vanes are swiveled in
directions opposite each other since the connection members 70 of
the coupling rods 60 are adjusted towards each other. All in all,
the result is a spread-out air flow.
* * * * *